Movie Review: Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

I think I'm starting to love Brian De Palma movies. I've always liked them, or at least I have since I was aware of De Palma, but it was easy to think of him as overrated, another seventies icon that old critics go on about that doesn't have much meaning today. The fact that most of the movies he's made lately are pretty horrible (Snake Eyes, Mission to Mars, the horribly mishandled and disappointing The Black Dahlia) adds to this. But now, having seen Phantom, as well as the perplexing (but awesome) Sisters and the amazing Dressed to Kill, I think I get it.
Part of the appeal, I think, is that when De Palma is on and really going for it (as he is pretty much throughout Phantom), he is the star. The way he moves the camera and stages scenes are key- the actors, sets, story, etc. are secondary. I'm sure other directors operate similarly, but I'm failing to think of many others right now.
Take entire sequence involving Leech sneaking into the Paradise (via a lengthy POV sequence), then placing a bomb in a prop car's trunk (homaging Touch of Evil), followed by the single take, split screen countdown towards the bomb's explosion in the midst of a crowded musical performance: its absolutely thrilling. And its success isn't due to the "oh no a bomb is going to go off" plot of it, its successful for the confidence with which De Palma moves the camera, tracing the bomb's movement towards the crowd, then after the explosion, trains in Swan's sinister reaction as he watches in the dark. It's stunning filmmaking. (Though plenty of credit is also due to the sound designers, and the way the bomb's loud ticking is integrated into the song).
Beyond De Palma, there is plenty more to like (though its De Palma that makes the movie one to love). The performances are all pretty fun- Paul Williams particularly is a weirdly perverse villain; he looks sort of like a glammed out Linda Hunt, but remains threatening and even believable as the adored, mysterious music mogul. I dug Jessica Harper a lot in the ingenue role, especially her audition scene, when her almost fourth wall breaking singing to the camera becomes a sort of discomforting but mesmerizing flirtation. Williams' soundtrack is pretty solid too- he covers a lot of ground and styles, provides a requisite ballad that amazingly isn't horrible, and killer glam closing number ("For the Hell of It" I think). The costume and set design is pretty spectactular too.
I'd seen bits and pieces of Phantom on TV years ago, but yeah, watching it again was pretty revelatory. A great movie, and so much more than just a "cooler alternative to Rocky Horror" that I'd kind of thought it as. Though seriously, so much better than friggin' Rocky Horror.